The NRL are set to fly all 17 club bosses to Las Vegas where a cast of former NFL and college players could enter a rugby league combine in a bid to bring new talent into rugby league.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported as part of the NRL’s double header to open the 2024 season in Las Vegas, talks to find American athletes to switch codes to rugby league have begun.
According to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity given the private talks, club chief executives have been told of the plan to hold private trials in front of representatives from all NRL clubs in the week of the Las Vegas season opener.
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The combine is in the early stages of development amid the NRL’s five-year plan to play regular season games in America.
Under the proposed plan NRL club recruitment staff would attend the combine to run their eye over potential athletes capable of making the switch to rugby league.
The combine could feature up to 60 male and female players, with a preference for athletes who might have previously been part of an NFL franchise or played American football at college level.
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It is hoped female players could be unearthed to help improve the standard of the rapidly expanding NRLW competition.
The NRL are hoping for the potential for American athletes to sign train and trial deals with NRL clubs as early as the 2024 season.
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Valentine Holmes and Jarryd Hayne have made the switch to NFL, but as yet there has been little appetite for American athletes to make the switch to rugby league.
The late Manfred Moore was the highest profile athlete to make the switch after signing with the Newtown Jets in 1977 and playing his first game three months after his NFL team the Oakland Raiders won the Super Bowl.
The NRL’s combine plans have been revealed as tickets going on sale on Friday for the Las Vegas matches that will be broadcast in Australia at 1.00pm and 3.30pm on Sunday, March 3.
